The seeds of fascism

[T]he deepening economic and systemic crisis of capitalism not only takes the form of increasing militarization and war. It also finds expression in the stepped-up state attack on the democratic rights of the people. Whether in the form of overt repression(police attacks on picket lines and street demonstrations), or through less crude or obvious legal-judicial means (use of court injunctions, wilful manipulation of the electoral process, etc.), or the promotion of ultra-right, racist and neo-fascist groupings or even paramilitary units, the class purpose remains the same: to stifle the democratic expressions and aspirations of the masses, to weaken the labour and democratic fightback, and to silence and, where necessary, crush anti-capitalist dissent. As we have pointed out in previous documents, genuine democracy is anathema to capitalist rule (and vice versa) and as the systemic crisis deepens and the class struggle correspondingly grows in intensity, the ruling class will use every means at its disposal to maintain its hegemony, stripping away even those democratic rights afforded under bourgeois democracy and, as a last resort, imposing fascist rule.While we have not arrived at fascism –the open, terroristic dictatorship of the most reactionary, the most chauvinistic, the most imperialistic elements of finance capitalism – the seeds of fascism have been laid by monopoly capital and its governments, and are beginning to sprout.The only antidote to the dangerous drift to state authoritarianism or fascism is the mobilization of all the pro-democratic forces, anchored by a strong, united, conscious and militant movement of labour and its closest allies, and with a strong and influential presence of the Communists...

Political Report of the Central Committee of the CPC, November 2010

Quebec`s Bill 78 shifts struggle to a battle for democracy and the right to dissent

Rebel Youth Montreal Bureau

This article was last updated at 24h00, Friday May 18th

This article was updated at 22h00, Friday May 18th

This article was updated at 16h00, Friday May 18th

This article was published on 12h30, Friday May 18th

Last night the Charest Liberal government tabled its repressive Duplessis-style legislation while thousands of protesters marched well past mid-night in the streets of Quebec City and Montreal, waving flags, chanting and even burning a draft of the repressive law.

The law 78 passed this afternoon with the right-wing CAQ party voting in favour, propping-up the precarous posistion of the Charest Liberals who are currently holding onto a majority of only one vote (following the resignation of the Minister of Education last week).  Links to the law in English are below.

The vote passed 68-48 at about 5:30 p.m.

The Montreal city council also passed a bylaw today banning masked demonstrators.

In this update RY magazine presents some highlights of the law, the critical analysis of the Quebec Bar association and today`s commentary about the legislation from students, labour leaders and the Employers Association of Quebec, which has stated its support of the legislation.

The student associations have said they plan to fight the law in court. It is unclear when the law will be signed into effect.

You can add your name to a petition against the law, endorsed by the major labour unions of Quebec by clicking here.  The petition is in French. An internet translation is available here.

The government this week also suspended classes in 14 of the province’s 48 colleges where strikes were still continuing as well in certain departments and faculties in 11 of the province’s 18 universities.

Highlights of Bill 78

The legislation is already scheduled to last a year, expiring in June 2013. This means the law will apply for the election, and, if the next government wishes, it could also extend the law. While the most glaring points are summarized below, the entire law is flawed in our view and must be withdrawn.

Read a graphic summary in French here.

Section 16 says that the police have to be informed eight hours in advance and in writing about any demonstration with the duration and route of the protests, for actions larger than 50 or more people (the Liberals increased the number from the original proposal of eight people). Section 17 says that organizers, or even a student association taking part in the march without being its organizer, must make sure that the event complies with the parameters handed to police.

The law does not only apply to students. Every waged person on campus are subject to the provisions. This is particularly aimed at the university teachers. The teachers have played a noble role in this battle, supporting the students, honoring their strike by refusing to give class, joining their picket lines, and even being arrested -- at demonstrations and but also being scooped by police from within the campus. Charest has accused the teachers of being the real organization behind the strike (a ludicrous idea).

Section 13 and 14 say that no one can “directly or indirectly contribute” to delaying classes or denying access to them. Section 15 says student associations must employ “appropriate means” to induce their members to not directly or indirectly disrupt classes.  Offering encouragement for someone to protest at a school, either tacitly or otherwise, is subject to punishment.

Article 29 had stated that whoever by act or "omission", "help [...] or induces another person to commit an offense" commits the offense itself.  The term omission was withdrawn after an amendment however.

There are increased powers granted to the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sport. The Minister may order an educational institution, notwithstanding any contrary provision, to stop collecting student association fees.

Update: Quebec student strike, work of the YCL

Quebec student strike enters new stage

Midnight Wednesday, May 15 -- Regarding the Quebec student strike, there have been a series of important developments within the last 24 hours that we will be presenting new analysis and reportage on within the next few days as the picture becomes clearer. Tonight 8,000 students are in the streets and as we write in Montreal and Quebec City, the police are again charging them in full riot gear.

Until then, please check our our latest summary here.

The Charest Liberal government announced, despite a substantial compromise offer put forward by the students yesterday, that the government will legislate a termination of the session for schools on strike, and that police force will be used to break any resistance. This has been widely condemned by the students and most other progressive voices in Quebec.  The English-language media is continuing its campaign of dis-information, failing to report on a number of violent arrests and attacks by the police over the past week.

YCL planning to enter summer of action

The Young Communist League has been busy in the struggle of youth and students this month including as follows:

• Participation in May Day actions and events across the country
• In Quebec, continuing participating in mobilizations and actions
• In Ontario, building for a summer 2012 provincial convention

Quebec struggle receives international support

Student associations from Chile, who are in a major struggle for almost a year now, wrote this week to Quebec CEGEP students and academics. Chilean students are critical of the "neoliberal policies" of the government of Jean Charest. Camila Vallejo, one of the leaders of the Chilean student movement, encourages students from Quebec. "When we defend the right to free public education to serve the people and their needs, we confront the big fish that refuse to let us go in that direction. And this is where we must be smarter, more intelligent, more committed, more so, to avoid falling into the game and the strategy of those who would divide us, frighten us... I invite you to continue with strength, "she said. A representative of the Continental Organization of Latin American and Caribbean students said for his part, about "Maple Spring", nickname of Quebec movement: "They can cut the leaves, they will not stop the spring. " 

New elections called in Greece

The Assessment of the KKE regarding the revealing procedure-fraud of the exploratory mandates, which were part of the general plan for the mass manipulation and the disarmament of the people with the focus on the next elections

A huge rally for the KKE in Athens, May 16th

This is the reason why the KKE, when it was asked before the elections what it would do in case it received the exploratory mandate, clarified honestly and boldly before the people (without caring about the cost it would have regarding votes) that it WOULD immediately return the mandate. The KKE clarified that it will not participate in a government of bourgeois management that objectively entails an anti-people way out from the crisis. It is very well aware of the position and the practice of other parties, that none of the proposed governments, either those in favour of “negotiation” or those in favour of the “amendment” and a new Memorandum can solve the acute problems, even approach the needs of the people. This is the content of the historical responsibility, regarding which SYRIZA denounces us. We reply to them by commenting that they are demon-strating a historically irresponsible stance in relation to the people.

Fifth National Campaign against Homophobia Underway in Cuba

Rainbow flags and the Cuban flag

An exhibition of paintings and other plastic arts works promoting the acceptance of and respect for free and responsible sexual orientation and gender identity was inaugurated on Tuesday in Havana during the opening day of the Fifth National Campaign against Homophobia that runs in Cuba through the month of May.


In a press conference at Havana’s National Center of Sexual Education (CENESEX), the director of this institution, Mariela Castro Espín, explained that, as in previous years, the main purpose of the campaign is to contribute to the education of society, focusing mainly on the family and youths.

Charest offer goes down to total defeat, education minister resigns

RY Montreal Bureau

As the news breaks about Education Minister Line Beauchamp`s resignation, the CLASSE and the FEUQ have now published on their websites updated lists of votes on the government`s offer.  These stats, reprinted at the bottom of this article in English, date from Monday May 14th.

The government offer is summarized in English here and critically discussed by the YCL in English here, and in French by the CLASSE here.

Message: rejection!

Of all the student associations that have voted so far, these are the figures:

In favor of the offer:  3 student unions representing 5000 students

Against the offer:   115 student unions, representing 342 000 students

Source in French 

We can expect this trent to continue, showing that the government`s offer has been totally defeated. But even if every other student union in Quebec voted for the agreement, there will still be a majority against the deal. After-all, there are a little under 500,000 students in Quebec.

The list shows that opposition to the government offer is widespread across the regions of Quebec. It also shows that a range of students are rejecting the offer. The list includes student unions with English-language membership (ie. Dawson and Concordia), and with significant numbers of students from racialized communities.

Capitalist lifeboats will come `at some point`...

The IMF reports that Greek incomes have dropped by about 10 per cent since 2010, hours worked have dropped by 7 per cent, and unemployment (especially youth unemployment) is skyrocketing. That isn't good enough for Greece's lenders, who are looking to the Greek government to engineer a further direct assault on the country's minimum wage, labour standards, pensions and collective bargaining with the aim of imposing a substantial further drop in income. Manufacturing output in Greece has dropped by 50 per cent; tourism by 10 per cent. By further impoverishing the working people of Greece, the country's lenders are hoping to engineer a more “competitive” economy that will return, at some point, to growth.

Source: The Globe and Mail, Monday May 14 2012

Great read - Ultimatum in English explains the point of view of the progressive student coalition CLASSE

Click on the link below to read in full screen.

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